The Hermit

- IX -"It requires great courage to look at oneself honestly, and forge one's own path..."

Description

The Hermit signifies introspection and analysis. Perhaps this might mean a person who has turned away from the conventional wisdom of the world, seeking their answers within themself. Or perhaps this is someone who has set out to actively find the truth, in whatever form it might be. Whether their focus lies inwards or outwards, the goal is the same: to chase away the shadows of ignorance with the illumination of knowledge. While perhaps not the most social of people, the Hermit makes up for this fault with a vast store of information they accumulate about themselves and the world around them. However, in their search, they risk becoming frustrated or upset, whether with other people or the obstacles in their path. Though some among them may wish to withdraw themselves from the world, and though some may have become embittered or cynical in their quest for knowledge and truth, there is no denying it: the Hermit is a person of great wisdom and experience.

In reverse, the worst traits of the Hermit are amplified, and the best laid aside and forgotten. This sort of person is convinced both that they know all the answers and that everyone else is a fool or worse not for not being as enlightened as they. Seeing their time as precious and the others unworthy, they turn their back on the world and all further knowledge it might grant them. Or perhaps, they've encountered some problem in their path that they can't seem to solve, despite all the wisdom and experience they have at hand--or worse, their mind itself has become somehow damaged, cutting off entirely their ability to continue on their quest for truth.

Sample Personae

Yomotsu-Shikome, the hags of Yomi who serve Izanami

Lamia, a Libyan queen from Greek myth whose children were murdered by Hera

Mothman, a cryptid from West Virginia

Example Persona-Users/Shadow-Possessed

Upright Traits

Introspection, Silence, Guidance, Reflection, Solitude, Looking inward, Reclusion, Being quiet, Inner search, Deep understanding, Isolation, Distance, Retreat, Philosophical attitude. The Buddhist monk traveling the world from town to town and temple to temple in search of enlightenment by day, while resting in quiet meditation at night.

Reversed Traits

OPPOSITE: Isolation, Misanthropy, Paranoia, Bitterness, Hating the world, Foolishness, Immaturity, Abuse of position. The old man who yells at kids walking down the sidewalk to get off his lawn.
BLOCKED: Lost in the dark, Temporarily blinded, Stuck on problems, Groping for answers. The near-sighted old man who lost his glasses and is trying to find them again.
UPSIDE-DOWN: Foolishness, Lack of concentration, Lack of knowledge, Loss of rationality, Loss of clear thought, Loss of intelligence. The old man who's gone senile or succumbed to Alzheimer's.